Appeal No. 1999-2674
Application No. 08/192,979
step in the claims as denoting the application of a force to
position the coupler against the outside surface of the cornea
during the passing of infrared radiation. It is also worthy
of noting that the second indicated major functional part of
the coupler 10 is the substantially transparent center portion
11 that has the radially curved surface or corneal engaging
surface 30, which
surface performs the functions of acting as a heat sink and
thermostat, a template for the cornea, and a mask during the
reshaping procedure (specification, page 13).
We turn now to the evidence of obviousness.
This panel of the Board certainly appreciates the
relevance of the Sand disclosure in describing laser
keratoplasty to effect collagen shrinkage in a human cornea
for bringing about shape modification thereof in correcting
refractive disorders. Sand also teaches a lower surface
temperature for corneal layers anterior to the stroma produced
by flowing insert gas or liquid over the cornea during
irradiation or by applying a contact lens window of a material
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